happening, I think I would know because I have a

She has 22 Grand Slam titles and her own clothing line. She has earned more than $80 million in prize money and spent nearly six years as the No. 1 tennis player in the world. So what to get Serena Williams on her 35th birthday? We present perspective, from friends, rivals and fans, all of whom told us what Serena means to them.I didnt know anything about tennis, but I definitely knew who Serena Williams was. I remember being out on tour with Destinys Child. She came to a show and she and I havent stopped talking since that day. We just clicked. Shes always seemed to find a way to make me laugh, let me know when Im at my greatest, but will also let me know when Im at my worst, and thats when true friendship is tested. Its how honest one can be with you. How she balances being the No. 1 tennis player in the world and a No. 1 friend baffles me. She is the friend that I prayed and asked God for, whom I also deeply admire. My lifelong friend. Serena Williams.-- Kelly Rowland, singerShes the ultimate competitor, a person that plays the game with so much fire and passion. I have tons of respect for her and what shes been able to do over her career. Arguably one of the best women athletes to ever play any sport, and she does it with grace and passion.-- Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback I know the numbers and the stats and the records, but I feel her career is the best in the history of the game even without those. I truly believe that. ... I have always admired the way shes handled the ups and downs of her career, and shes always had that champion mentality and the fighting spirit. Its just amazing. To me, shes always been the toughest opponent you can have, but also the most exciting. Ive always looked forward to playing against her, because thats when you truly test yourself or your level. Its always exciting to me. In my mind, shes the greatest player ever, regardless of the record.-- Victoria Azarenka, tennis playerSerena means strength and beauty to me. She breaks barriers in tennis and for women, with just enough of an edge to keep everyone waiting to see what she will do next. Congrats. You set the championship standard for us all.-- Monica Abbott, softball pitcher Shes important to me. Shes important to young girls who look like her and me. Shes important to women in sports in general. With her, I always use the phrase unapologetically fearless. ... She hasnt backed down from her body shape, from wanting to get paid at a high level like the men, from so many issues. You see this kid who came from Compton and what shes been able to achieve; shes been this icon.--Swin Cash, basketball starI mean, body. ... She is a walking goddess. Amazing. Feminine. Strength. Lets take gender and all of that out for a minute, and just focus on an amazing athlete. I know that I couldnt stand up against her. Shes amazing. ... Theres a lot that comes with the expectation of who people perceive you to be, then you could just be who you are. Shes a very elegant woman.-- Usher, entertainerSerena is the epitome of power, finesse, and she has everything in her arsenal. She can do anything, and when I watch her play, its her game to lose. To me, I call it big, bold and beautiful. Thats what Serena means to me. I think to me, whenever she loses a match, she always gives the competitor their dues, and thats what a great champion is -- they played well and they played better than her that day. It wasnt that they were hitting lucky shots. It was, they played to win.Kerry Phomtavong, fan from Oakland, CaliforniaSerena means champion to me. I got a chance to see her 30 for 30 and see how she was raised, see all the challenges her and her family had to go through to even get her to this level. Its rewarding, its like the cherry on top of the cake to the story. Your parents always tell you to work hard, and shes that proof.-- Fabolous, rapper I remember watching her play in her catsuit outfit at the US Open [in 2002]. That was awesome. I was like, Oh my gosh, this girl rocks! I hadnt met her at the time yet. And the first time I did meet her, she was so sweet and just gracious, and nice enough to talk to me. Little me! I couldnt believe it. It was just in passing the first time, it really wasnt anything special, but it was just the fact that it was her -- Serena Williams! -- talking to me.-- Shelby Rogers, tennis playerSerena means a source of comfort for me. When I was younger, I kind of felt alone because I was one of the couple black swimmers in the sport. Just watching her be so dominant in a sport that she was also a minority in comforted me, and kind of helped me realize that if I wanted to fulfill a dream, I could, and I shouldnt let the fact that Im a minority in a sport keep me from reaching those goals and dreams.-- Simone Manuel, swimming gold medalist Watching her, its an inspiration. Shes so powerful in everything that she does. When she loses, I feel like Ive lost. When she wins, its like we all win together.-- Tamika Catchings, basketball starSerena is an amazing athlete and an amazing tennis role model for all players. Shes one of the greatest players of all time. I think Serena should definitely be praised for all of her accolades on and off the court. Shes definitely a role model for all players to look up to. ... Its just herself in general -- her presence on and off the court, what shes brought to womens sports and, selfishly, womens tennis.-- Coco Vandeweghe, tennis playerSerena Williams is the ultimate human being. ... Shes true and real, she owns who she is. She believes in the struggle and is mentally tough. To me ... being mentally tough, that is the most inspirational thing you can have -- is to trust and believe in yourself. That you can succeed and overcome all things -- even when the going gets tough. Being mentally tough, especially as a fitness professional, its not about your body, its not about a size, but rather a mentality. If you want to achieve any goal, it starts from the neck up. And Serena definitely leads the charge as being the greatest athlete of all time because she leads with her mind, but possesses the power.-- Shaun T, celebrity fitness trainerProbably the world. We love each other. 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Wholesale Custom Nationals Shirts . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. With the impending sale of TNA Impact Wrestling and the status of Sundays Bound For Glory pay-per-view card still unresolved, minority owner and creative lead Billy Corgan is hoping for a miracle.Corgan, the iconic frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins who joined TNA in 2015 and was later elevated to president in August, was a guest on The Dan Le Batard Show on Thursday.We have been in the same situation the last three times we have done this and we have had a Music City Miracle three times in a row, so I am kind of counting on a fourth one, Corgan said. I dont expect anybody is going to do anything too ridiculous to make sure that [Sundays PPV] doesnt happen. It would put a lot of people out of work.Corgan has been forced to personally finance the past three rounds of TV tapings at the last minute as TNA continues to face financial trouble. He is hoping to resolve that issue with a new vision for the company, provided he can purchase it from Dixie Carter, who had previously run TNA since 2003.There remain multiple suitors at the negotiating table, however, with Corgan acknowledging rumors that industry-leading WWE is among the potential buyers. So how does one go about winning a bidding war against Vince McMahon?Well you dont, and I think thats the simplest part of the equation, Corgan said. If Mr. McMahon wants to buy the company, there is nothing you or God can do to stop him. So thheres that.ddddddddddddBut outside of that, which as of this moment that has not happened or doesnt appear to be happening, I think I would know because I have a piece of the company and so I would have to be informed of that -- or at least would hope to be informed of that.Corgan calls the current negotiations a serious fight for who is going to end up with majority ownership, saying, Everybody has got the gun out and no one seems to know what to do.While Corgan has a large vision for the future, he admits its just a lot of talk unless he can gather the proper resources.I think you need consistent capital, that has been a plague of the company for a long time, Corgan said. You dont have a consistent resource so you cant make consistent decisions.TNA champion Bobby Lashley, who is scheduled to headline Sundays PPV card against Ethan Carter III, told ESPN.com on Thursday he has a backup plan in place regarding his travel should the card get cancelled. But, as of now, his plane ticket to Orlando, Florida, is still valid.As far as I know, Im supposed to be doing a match Sunday and if anything changes up until then, its no big deal, said Lashley. I want to be wrestling and I want TNA to stay alive because it has been a great program for me up to this point. ' ' '